TROY – A St. Charles man who previously fostered dozens of children in Lincoln County entered an Alford plea Monday to four counts of sodomy.

Ronald Gene Graham, Jr., 62, entered the Alford plea for alleged crimes dating back to the 1980s. An Alford plea is a type of guilty plea that permits a defendant to accept a plea bargain and at the same time acknowledge that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction.

Prior to entering the plea, Graham faced 13 felony charges of sodomy, child molestation, statutory rape and sexual abuse. Court records list multiple alleged sexual acts committed by Graham as an adult. Among the acts that Graham is accused of dates back to 1988.

Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood said the abuse occurred for more than 20 years and the victims were children placed in Graham’s home by the division of children’s services.

Some reports indicate Graham fostered more than 40 children, but Wood said his office was unable to determine an exact number due to children services refusal to turn over records.

Wood believes there’s a good reason the state agency hasn’t cooperated with his investigation.

“Children’s division was aware there was sexual abuse going on in the home and they continued to place children there,” he said. “They recognize they are the target of a criminal investigation that could potentially lead to charges.”

Wood said Graham faces up to 7 years in prison on each charge, or a total of 28 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 5.

Until then, Graham remains free on a $25,000 cash-only bond.